Self-Locking Tourniquet and Automated Timer

Abstract

Tourniquet assemblies are provided including a pressure applicator adapted to be secured around a limb and a tensioning mechanism for applying a working tension to the pressure applicator. The tensioning mechanism may include a platform, a clip and a tensioning member. The tensioning mechanism may be configured to apply the working tension via rotation of the tensioning member, and the clip may be configured to receive, and at least temporarily inhibit rotation of, the tensioning member. A tension indicator may also be provided including a base configured to attach to a tourniquet strap, a platform configured to move relative to the base when subjected to a tourniquet working pressure, and one or more tactile or visual indicators configured to provide a variable tactile or visual indicator based on the tourniquet working pressure.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to provisional application Ser. Nos. 61 / 465,488, filed on Mar. 21, 2011, and 61 / 403,308, filed on Sep. 14, 2010, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates generally to tourniquets. More particularly, aspects of the invention include tourniquets with self-locking features, and / or tourniquet timers that provide visual and tactile indicators based on pressure applied to the tourniquet.[0004]2. Related Art[0005]As known in the art, and as variously described in various of the below-identified references, a tourniquet is a device that is designed to be applied to a limb for the purpose of constricting blood flow to that limb by applying pressure in order to limit the effects of extreme blood loss.[0006]Tourniquets are typically used in the temporary treatme...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]In embodiments, exemplary tourniquets may be configured to allow application to a patient with a single hand. A tensioning mechanism may allow the tourniquet to be tightened and the tensioning system locked into position. Embodiments may include various means that set a timing system that can be visually and / or physically inspected to assist in determining when the tourniquet has been applied and / or for how long tension has been applied to the tourniquet.

[0034]The device has a physical and visual indicator that shows the pressure applied. Other internal features allow a tension, once applied, to be maintained over a short-range of movement while being gauged by a visual and tactile indicator.

Problems solved by technology

Vascular injuries to the extremities become critical when life threatening blood loss is possible.

Even though civilian extremity injuries are common, extremity injuries occurring in the battlefield are more frequent and can present unique challenges.

However, extreme pain is commonly associated with blood occlusion caused by a tourniquet.

However, when the individual reaches medical help this information is rarely transferred to the medics even though the non-uniform occlusion may alter the treatment plan.

Also, the user may not know the appropriate tension to occlude severe blood loss.

Despite many advances in the design and use of tourniquets, there still exist limitations in the effectiveness of various implementations, particularly in the context of rapid and reliable application and monitoring of the tourniquet in conditions that may typically be found on the battlefield and other emergency situations.

For example, the use of various known electronic monitoring and control means may be susceptible to shock, pressure, moisture, dirt, etc. routinely found in battlefield conditions.

Other tourniquet configurations that may be adapted for one person to use may also suffer from drawbacks in their performance, and / or clinical effectiveness, due to accommodations made to suit one-handed use.

For example, the cord tourniquet such as described in Kirkham, and other known means, may lack the desired ability to properly set and / or distribute the necessary pressure applied by the tourniquet to effectively stop extremity bleeding including arterial bleeding.

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